Stackable cosmetic jar

ABSTRACT

A jar ( 2 ) for a cosmetic product is provided which includes a non-circular container body ( 4 ) and a cap closure ( 14 ). The container body ( 4 ) features a closed end ( 6 ) defined by a bottom panel ( 8 ) and an open end defined by a mouth ( 12 ). The bottom panel ( 8 ) on an exterior surface is formed with projecting crescent shaped symmetrically disposed feet ( 66 ). The cap closure ( 14 ) includes a fitment ( 16 ) engageable around the mouth ( 12 ) and supported on the container body ( 4 ). A lid ( 18 ) is hingedly connected to the fitment ( 16 ) and defined by a roof panel ( 20 ) having a domed upper surface. The upper surface includes a pair of crescent shaped indents ( 24, 26 ) formed symmetrical to each other along opposite edges of the roof panel ( 20 ). The crescent shaped indents ( 24, 26 ) allow stacking of one jar upon another with good stability. The domed (curved) roof panel ( 20 ) distributes force (from stacked jars) more evenly along the cap closure ( 14 ). This permits a decrease in jar wall thickness which leads to a reduction in plastic weight.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns jars which have domed lids and are structured tobe stackable one upon another.

Ordinarily the term “jar” refers to a squat large-mouthed container. Inthe cosmetics art, jars are the packaging of choice for cold creams andfor petrolatum. Indeed, petrolatum jars sold under the trademark ofVASELINE or VASELINOS are the premier jar cosmetic products. Since thesepackages are proportionately squat, retailers need to stack one jar uponanother to efficiently utilize store shelf space. Stackability is also adesirable feature in transport of these packages from manufacture to theretail store.

Environmental concerns and economics provide an incentive to lightweight packages. Excess plastic desirably should be removed frompackaging. Ordinarily jars need to be stackable to conserve space. Acertain amount of plastic is needed to render walls of the jarsufficiently sturdy for stacking.

We have found that curved (dome) caps distribute force more evenly. Lessdownward force is generated. Consequently the jars can be constructedwith thinner walls than ordinarily required for flat capped jars. Ofcourse the problem with curved surfaces is that objects are not readilystably perched thereon. Curvature presents stackability problems.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,634 (Telesca et al.) discloses a domed flip-topdispenser for towelettes. Around the inner towelette dispensing apertureis a domed platform congruent with the domed lid. A special plug seal isdescribed to ensure tight fit between lid and dispensing aperture. Afocus of the present invention is to provide a jar with a lid having acurvilinear top surface permitting a second similar jar to be stablypositioned atop the first. A secondary objective of certain embodimentsaccording to the present invention is to provide a sealing systemsuitable for a jar with curvature.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A jar for cosmetic products is provided which includes:

-   -   (i) a non-circular container body having a closed end defined by        a bottom panel and an open end defined by a mouth, the bottom        panel on an exterior surface formed with projecting crescent        shaped symmetrically disposed feet;    -   (ii) a cap closure including:        -   (a) a fitment engageable around the mouth and supported on            the container body;        -   (b) a lid hingedly connected to the fitment and defined by a            roof panel having a domed upper surface, the upper surface            including a pair of crescent shaped indents symmetrical to            each other formed along opposite edges of the roof panel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomemore evident upon consideration of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan perspective view of a jar according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of stacked jars;

FIG. 4 is a plan elevational view similar to that of FIG. 1 except thatthe lid has been moved into an open position;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional partial view along line 5A-5A of FIG. 2showing the depth variation and configuration of the crescent shapedindent on the roof panel;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional partial view along line 5B-5B of FIG. 5Ashowing depth near terminal section of the indent;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional partial view along line 5C-5C of FIG. 5Ashowing depth around a middle section of the indent;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section along line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the partial area in dashed outlineshown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is an elevational tilted view of the jar showing a bottom panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

We have found that use of a pair of crescent shaped indents (curvedgrooves) prevent slippage. The indents prevent not only a stacked jarfrom sliding off the roof panel of another jar but they also prevent asideways fall. The crescent geometry of the present invention ensuresthat both directions of instability on a cap closure can be minimized.

FIG. 1 illustrates the jar 2 of the present invention. This packageincludes a non-circular container body 4 having a closed end 6 definedby a bottom panel 8 and an open end defined by a mouth 12.

A cap closure 14 is placed over the open end 10 of the container body.

FIG. 1 illustrates a fully closed position of the cap closure. FIG. 4illustrates an open position. The cap closure includes a fitment 16engageable around the mouth 12 and supported on the container body. Alid 18 is hingedly connected to the fitment. The lid is defined by aroof panel 20 having a domed upper surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates the upper surface as including a pair of crescentshaped indents 24, 26 symmetrical to each other and formed alongopposite edges of the roof panel. FIG. 3 illustrates jar 2 serving as abase for jar 3 (shown without a cap closure) in a stacking arrangement.

FIG. 5A illustrates a cross-sectional partial view of the lid with focusupon the crescent shaped indent 24. The indent includes a middle section28 flanked on either side by terminal sections 30, 32. The middlesection 28 has a rounded and at midpoint almost flat floor; it isgrooved deeper into the roof panel than the terminal sections 30, 32.FIG. 5C best illustrates the middle section. There is also a geometricdifference between the sections. Terminal sections 30, 32 have aV-shaped floor. FIG. 5B best illustrates the terminal sections.

FIG. 4 best illustrates an interior surface 48 of the roof panel 20. Theroof panel is bordered by a downward projecting skirt 34. This skirt isdefined by a front portion 36, a rear portion 38 and two side portions40, 42 opposite one another. The side portions bridge the front and rearportions. The front and rear portions have lower concavely formed edges44.

A seal plug 46 projects downwardly from the interior surface 48 of theroof panel. The seal plug is interior to and uninterruptedly juxtaposedalong front, rear and side portions of the skirt. Further, the seal plughas a front section 50, a rear section 52 and two side sections 54, 56.The front and rear sections have lower convexly formed edges 58.

A lid seal 60 surrounds the mouth 12 and projects upwardly toward thelid 18. Along a perimeter of the lid seal 60 is an outwardly projectingseal bead 62, best shown in FIG. 7. The seal bead is seated matinglyagainst an interior of the front portion 36 of the skirt along the lowerconcavely formed edge 44. In a closed lid position, the jar features theseal plug seated interior to and matingly with the lid seal.

A support ridge 64 is found on the fitment 16 below the seal bead. Thesupport ridge has a convex curvature to matingly engage the concavelyformed lower edges of the front and rear portions of the skirt.

FIG. 8 illustrates the bottom panel 8 of the container body being formedconcavely outward and downward. This structure creates along an outerperimeter of the bottom panel a set of juxtaposed feet 66 shaped toengage the crescent shaped indent 24 of jar 2 when stacked atop this jar2.

1. A jar (12) for cosmetic products comprising: (i) a non-circularcontainer body (4) having a closed end (6) defined by a bottom panel (8)and an open end defined by a mouth (12), the bottom panel (8) on anexterior surface formed with projecting crescent shaped symmetricallydisposed feet; and (ii) a cap closure (14) comprising: (a) a fitment(16) engageable around the mouth (12) and supported on the containerbody (4); and (b) a lid (18) hingedly connected to the fitment (16) anddefined by a roof panel (20) having a domed upper surface, the uppersurface comprising a pair of crescent shaped indents (24, 26)symmetrical to each other formed along opposite edges of the roof panel(20).
 2. A jar according to claim 1 wherein the crescent shaped indents(24, 26) comprise a middle section (28) flanked on either side byterminal sections (30, 32), the middle section (28) being grooved deeperinto the roof panel (20) than the terminal sections (30, 32).
 3. A jaraccording to claim 2 wherein the terminal sections (30, 32) have aV-shaped floor.
 4. The jar according to any one of the preceding claimswherein the roof panel (20) is bordered by a downward projecting skirt(34), the skirt (34) having a front portion (36), a rear portion (38)and two side portions (40, 42) opposite one another bridging the frontand rear portions (36, 38).
 5. A jar according to claim 4 wherein thefront and rear portions (36, 38) have lower concavely formed edges (44).6. A jar according to any one of the preceding claims further comprisinga seal plug (46) downwardly projecting from an interior surface of theroof panel (48), the seal plug (46) being interior to anduninterruptedly juxtaposed to the front, rear and side portions of theskirt (36, 38, 40, 42).
 7. A jar according to claim 6 wherein the sealplug (46) has a front section (50), a rear section (52) and two sidesections (54, 56) opposite one another bridging the front and rearsections (50, 52), the front and rear sections (50, 52) having lowerconvexly formed edges (58).
 8. A jar according to claim 6 or claim 7wherein a lid seal (60) surrounds the mouth (12) and projects upwardlytoward the lid (18).
 9. A jar according to claim 8 wherein the seal plug(46) in a closed position is seated interior to and matingly with thelid seal (60).
 10. A jar according to claim 8 or claim 9 wherein the lidseal (60) along a perimeter thereof has an outwardly projecting sealbead (62), the seal bead (62) seated matingly with an interior of thefront portion of the skirt (36) along a lower concavely formed edgethereof (44).
 11. A jar according to claim 10 further comprising asupport ridge (64) on the fitment (16) below the seal bead (62), thesupport ridge (64) having a convex curvature to matingly engage theconcavely formed lower edges of the front and rear portions of the skirt(36, 38).
 12. A jar according to any one of the preceding claims whereinthe bottom panel (8) of the container is formed concavely outward anddownward thereby creating along an outer perimeter a set of juxtaposedfeet (66) shaped to engage the crescent shaped indents (24, 26) ofanother jar and stacked one above the other.